Olga slept heavily, and when Mr. Palma returned, he brought his warm scarlet-lined dressing-gown and softly laid it around Regina’s shoulders.  She looked up to express her thanks, but he was watching Olga’s face, and soon after walked to the mantlepiece and stood leaning, with his elbow upon it.

At last the slumberer moaned, turned, and after a few restless movements, threw herself back on the bolster, and fell asleep once more, with disjointed words dying on her lips.  It was five o’clock, and Mr. Palma beckoned Regina to him.

“She will be better when she wakes.  Go to her room, and go to sleep.  I will watch her until her mother comes in.”

“I could not sleep, and am unwilling to leave her until the doctor arrives.”

“You look utterly exhausted.”

“I am stronger than I seem.”

“Mrs. Palma tells me that you have been made acquainted with the unfortunate infatuation which has overshadowed poor Olga’s life for some years at least.  I should be glad to know what you have learned.”

“All that was communicated to me on the subject was under the seal of confidence, and I hope you will excuse me if I decline to betray the trust reposed in me.”

“Do you suppose I am ignorant of what has recently occurred?”

“At least, sir, I shall not recapitulate what passed between Olga and myself.”

“You are aware that she considers me the author of all her wretchedness.”

“She certainly regards you and Mrs. Palma’s opposition to her marriage with Mr. Eggleston as the greatest misfortune of her life.”

“He is utterly unworthy of her affection, is an unscrupulous dissipated man; and it were better she should die to-day, rather than have wrecked her future by uniting it with his.”

“But she loved him so devotedly.”

“She was deceived in his character, and refused to listen to a statement of facts.  When she knows him as he really is, she will despise him.”

“I am afraid not”

“I know her better than you do.  Olga is a noble high-souled woman, and she will live to thank me for her salvation from Eggleston.  Her marriage with Mr. Congreve must not be consummated; I will never permit it in my house.”

“She believes you have urged it, have manoeuvred to bring it to pass, and this has enhanced her bitterness.”

“Manoeuvring is beneath me, and I am justly accused of much for which I am in no degree responsible.  Poor Olga has painted me an inhuman monster, but her good sense will ere long acquit me, when this madness has left her and she is once more amenable to reason.”

He walked softly across the floor, leaned over the bed, and for some minutes watched the sleeper, then quietly left the room.

Drawing his dressing-gown closely around her, Regina sat down near the bedside; and as she felt the pleasant warmth of the pearl-grey merino, and detected the faint odour of cigar smoke in its folds, she involuntarily pressed her lips to the garment that seemed almost a part of its owner.